hi. I have a ct angiogram on Tuesday afternoon. my dad can't drive. the hospital is 6 miles away. I am they only driver. I also have ptsd and anxiety. I could get a taxi but I don't think I could handle it. what I am wondering is would I be able to drive home after the scan?I know that they might give me something to slow my heart down. if they do how long would I have to wait until I can drive?
any information would be great. thanks.
I had a CT angiogram in 2020, and I was told they might need to give me beta blockers to slow my heart rate. There was no suggestion of not being able to drive, and they usually tell you if they don't think you should drive yourself. Give them a ring on Monday to check. There was never any suggestion of sedation, only beta blockers, and at my hospital a cardiologist is in the department to give it to you if you need it, and to monitor how effective it is.The scan itself is nothing to worry about, just boring with the usual odd feeling when the contrast stuff is used, not painful in the least and only lasts seconds.
The whole thing is over and done with in a short time, my personal favourite type of scan because it is so quick, my spine is so damaged that lying flat isn't a comfortable position for me, and because it's an open "donut", not enclosed, which I prefer.
It's natural to be nervous of the unknown, especially with your anxiety and PTSD, but it truly is a breeze.
Let us know how you get on.
thanks for the reply. I have had the medium before. my dad said he would come with me. I will let you know how it goes.
I'll be thinking of you, it's tough when you're apprehensive.I was so ticked off when I had mine, I didn't think it was necessary as it was all because of something that happened 6 years earlier, which I'd had checked out at the time and had no further issues, but they were SO insistent and I began to wonder if they knew something I didn't. It was during the time when distancing was required, and that didn't happen at all, they rang me the evening before and asked me to go 30 minutes early. I did so, and spent the whole of that 30 minutes waiting in a busy corridor. I was so cross when they eventually called me, and to cap it all they called me "dear", as I'm old! When they took my BP it was 210/112, but my heart rate was okay.
The scan was clear, so not needed.
I'm sure you'll have a better experience.
I had a ct angiogram a few months ago,my pulse was above what they wanted so had 2 lots of beta blockers but these are very short acting,didn't make me feel weird at all,they need your heart to slow down to get a good look at the heart,I felt fine after and they keep you for 20 mins after and ask if you're ok,then I drove home totally fine, I'd never had a scan like this,they say it's like a big doughnut,which it is,but the nurses talk to you all the way through and it was a lot easier than I thought, you'll be fine x
From experience I would advise not to drive yourself there or back. I had a ct angiogram 2022 and had to have medication before and during procedure to slow my heart rate down and personally did not feel well enough to drive after the ct.Good luck, hope it goes well and try not to worry.
I had a cardio angiogram with contrast last year and was glad that my husband drove me as I started to feel unwell on the drive home. I am asthmatic and needed to use my inhaler several times.
The journey ended up taking us much longer than the usual 30 minutes or so because of heavy traffic. They were running late with appointments and it was rush hour before we were able to leave the hospital.
Remember being told not to drive the same day and had to arrange alternative transport.
HiThey do recommend not driving afyer this procedure. When I had mine, they made sure I was picked up and walked me put to the car and made sure I was in the passenger seat. I hope you manage to sort something out
thanks everyone. I think my dad is going to bring me home.
Confirm with your cardiac team on Monday. I'm sorry that is probably not what you want to hear, but the guidance my hospital gave was
"Please arrange for someone to pick you up and take you home and remain with you for 24 hours following the procedure, as you must not drive or use public transport or be at home alone."
uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/a...
In my case the angiogram found a blockage and they then asked if I wanted to have a stent fitted immediately to save having to visit the hospital later for the stent.
The procedure is relatively straight forward and dosn't take long. After my first session, I was kept was kept overnight for observations and sent home the next day. I think the rule is you can drive after 24hours. I had a few such prodedures and after one of them I drove home, feeling able to, (<24 hours) without incident!
When I had a coronary angiogram as an outpatient the angio unit would not discharge me until my wife came to pick me up, on the ward, and I was told not to drive for 24 hours. Anyone who decides to drive immedidately after any sort of invasive procedure such as a coronary angiogram really needs to think again in my view, not least because they might be invalidating their motor insurance, and maybe increasing the risk for other road users as well as themselves. And of course if you are stented as part of an angiogram procedure the DVLA rules prohibit you from driving for 7 days, and you will lose your insurance cover during that period.
many hospitals have a transport thing you can book, run by volunteers.
angiograms don’t restrict driving. Neither do beta blockers.
My heart rate is 40 at a min. I still drive.
Had 3 stents in 2022 , had to stop driving for 4 weeks.
But the ct is like an X-ray , you wouldn’t stop driving with that?
hi everyone. thank you all so much for your advise.the scan went well. I felt a bit dizzy after. I only had gtn and the medium. they said I could drive home. my dad was really good. After having a sit and a coffee I was good to go. got home safe. I looked on the firmley after visit summary. wasn't expecting anything this early. but it says to ask my doctor to review my meds. I am taking aspirin .75mg, bisoprolol 1.25mg and atorvastatin 20mg. don't understand why i would need to change them. hopefully it won't be to long before I get the results.
I am doing well and I will update you all on the results. thanks again.
update. talked to the specialist nurse this morning. she said I have some mild lesions. but my heart is good and no blocked arteries. she wants me to stop the tablets and I can now carry on with the exercise. which is kind of good. the only thing is the symptoms are still the same. what do I do if I get chest pain again just carry on? also the gtn takes the pain away? I am going to chat to the gp tomorrow. also what about pip. do I still go after it or not bother. I don't know.
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